JAMES  S.  DENNIS 


AS  MISSIONARY  TO  SYRIA 


HELD  IN  THE 


FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH,  NEWARK,  N 


WEDNESDAY,  SEPTEMBER  2 


§Uw»w1t,  gL  : 

F  O  It  P  It  I  V  A  T  E  CIltCULATION 
1868. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2018  with  funding  from 
Columbia  University  Libraries 


https://archive.org/details/exercisesatordinOOunse_O 


EXERCISES 


AT  THE 


O  II  DINATI  O  Tsr 

OF 

JAMES  S.  DEMIS, 

Under  the  appointment  of  the  -/American  Board. 


AS  MISSIONARY  TO  SYRIA. 

HELD  IN  THE 


FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH,  NEWARK,  N.  J., 

WEDNESDAY,  SEPTEMBER  23d,  1868. 


Iteatls,  f  ♦ : 

PRINTED  FOR  PRIVATE  CIRCULATION. 

I860. 


At  an  adjourned  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  of  Newark,  held  in 
the  First  Presbyterian  Church  lecture  room,  Wednesday,  Septem¬ 
ber  23d,  at  3  P.  M.,  James  S.  Dennis,  of  Newark,  N.  J.,  having 
been  examined,  was  accepted  as  a  candidate  for  ordination  as  an 
evangelist,  his  prospective  field  of  labor  being  the  Syrian  Mission, 
under  the  auspices  of  the  American  Board ;  and  the  services 
attending  the  ordination,  were  appointed  to  be  held  in  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church  at  7J  o’clock  the  same  evening.  In  the 
absence  of  the  Moderator,  Rev.  Robert  Airman,  of  Elizabeth, 
was  invited  by  the  Presbytery  to  preside  in  the  evening,  and  offer 
the  ordaining  prayer. 

A  sermon  was  preached  by  Rev.  J.  F.  Stearns,  D.  D.,  Pastor  of 
the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  Newark,  after  which  Rev.  Robert 
Airman  spoke  briefly  of  his  regret  that  occasions  like  the  present 
did  not  occur  more  frequently  in  the  history  of  the  Presbytery, 
and  of  his  earnest  desire  that  deeper  feelings  of  interest,  and 
higher  views  of  personal  responsibility  might  possess  the  hearts 
and  consciences  of  all  Christians  with  regard  to  the  great  and 
important  work  of  Foreign  Missions. 


4 


ORDAINING  EXERCISES. 


He  then  recited  the  proceedings  of  the  Presbytery,  and  pro¬ 
posed  the  Constitutional  questions  to  the  candidate.  After  which 
he  offered  the  Ordaining  Prayer,  being  assisted  by  the  Presbytery 
in  the  laying  on  of  hands. 

A  charge  was  then  delivered  by  Rev.  H.  W.  Poor,  H.  D., 
Pastor  of  High  street  Presbyterian  Church,  Newark,  followed 
by  an  Address  of  Welcome  on  behalf  of  the  Syrian  Mission,  by 
Rev.  H.  H.  Jessup,  D.D.,  of  Syria. 

The  services  were  concluded  by  singing  the  hymn  commencing, 
“  All  hail  the  power  of  Jesus  name,77  followed  by  the  doxology, 
and  benediction  by  the  newly  ordained  evangelist. 


turnon 


*  ^  *  ,a  ^  ^  * 

bjr  :  jeo.  j .  J'.  learns,  n 


ISAIAH  xlix  :  6.  “And  he  said:  It  is  a  light  thing  that  thou  shouldest  be 
my  servant  to  raise  up  the  tribes  of  Jacob,  and  to  restore  the  preserved  of 
Israel :  I  will  also  give  thee  for  a  light  to  the  Gentiles,  that  thou  mayest 
be  my  salvation  unto  the  end  of  the  earth.” 

It  is  the  purpose  of  God,  as  made  known  in  the  Scriptures,  to 
convert  the  whole  world  by  human  instruments.  Of  this,  the 
passage  before  us  contains  one  of  the  most  explicit  declarations. 
It  is  addressed  to  the  Messiah,  of  whose  expected  reign,  the 
prophecy  of  Isaiah  is  so  full.  And  being  addressed  to  him  in  his 
capacity  as  servant  of  God,  and  Head  of  the  Church,  it  indicates 
the  agency  by  means  of  which  the  purpose  was  to  be  effected. 
So  the  apostles  Paul  and  Barnabas  seem  to  have  understood  it, 
when,  upon  the  rejection  of  their  message  by  the  Jews  at  Antioch 
in  Pisidia,  they  “  waxed  bold,  and  said :  It  was  necessary  that  the 
word  of  God  should  first  be  spoken  unto  you ;  but  seeing  ye  put 
it  from  you,  and  judge  yourselves  unworthy  of  everlasting  life,  lo, 
we  turn  to  the  Gentiles.  For  so  hath  the  Lord  commanded  us, 
saying :  I  have  set  thee  to  be  a  light  of  the  Gentiles  that  thou 
shouldest  be  for  salvation  unto  the  ends  of  the  earth.’7  What  he 
had  said  in  prophecy  to  their  Master,  they  regarded  as  said  like- 


6 


ORDAINING  EXERCISES. 


wise  to  his  apostles.  And  by  parity  of  reasoning,  what  he  said  to 
them,  we  may  regard  as  said  with  suitable  qualifications,  to  the 
whole  Church,  and  to  every  member  of  it.  “  I  have  set  thee  to  be 
a  light  of  the  Gentiles  that  thou  shouldest  be  for  salvation  unto 
the  ends  of  the  earth.77  (Acts  xiii :  49.) 

Here,  then,  we  have  the  Church’s  mission  under  her  Divine 
Head.  If  the  world  is  to  be  converted  at  all,  she  is  to  do  it. 
Using  the  means  of  grace  already  provided,  under  the  favor  of 
Divine  Providence,  with  reliance  on  the  Holy  Spirit  to  give  effi¬ 
cacy  to  the  truth,  she  is  to  go  forth  to  the  conversion  of  the  race 
just  as  she  has  heretofore  done  (only  with  vastly  increased  zeal, 
self-devotion  and  burning  love)  to  that  of  individual  men. 

No  doubt  the  great  Head  of  the  Church  might  have  adopted 
other  and  quicker  methods.  But  he  did  not  see  fit.  This  was  the 
one  best  adapted  to  call  forth  Christian  activity,  to  invigorate  the 
piety,  test  the  devotedness,  quicken  the  affections,  and  develop  the 
capacities  of  the  Church.  Had  he  done  the  whole  work  by  a 
miracle,  his  people  might  have  looked  on  and  admired,  but  would 
have  been  conscious  of  no  responsibility  and  enjoyed  no  oppor¬ 
tunity  to  co-operate.  Had  he  done  it  by  angelic  agency,  the  glory 
of  the  instrument  might  have  attracted  an  undue  portion  of  the 
praise.  But  he  committed  it  to  men,  frail  and  peccable,  that  the 
privilege  might  be  ours  on  the  one  hand,  and  God’s  all  the  glory 
on  the  other.  As  St.  Paul  forcibly  expresses  it,  “We  have  this 
treasure  in  earthen  vessels  that  the  excellency  of  the  power  might 
be  of  God,  and  not  of  us.77 

Yes,  the  'power  is  of  God.  And  this  is  our  answer  to  the  unbe¬ 
liever  when  he  talks  of  the  inadequacy  of  the  instrument,  “You 


ORDAINING  EXERCISES. 


7 


are  attempting,”  he  says,  “  an  impossibility.  Why,  if  the  Lord 
would  make  windows  in  heaven,  this  thing  might  not  be !  ”  But 
there  is  no  need  that  the  Lord  should  make  windows.  The  divine 
forces  already  in  operation,  the  word  and  ordinances,  the  providence 
and  the  grace  of  God,  fully  employed,  are  sufficient,  without  the 
slightest  disturbance  of  the  course  of  events  in  the  order  of 
nature,  to  give  success  to  the  endeavors  of  his  servants.  Too  often, 
in  the  course  of  her  history  has  the  Church  grown  impatient  or 
despondent,  either  abandoning  her  high  hopes  raised  by  prophecy, 
or  sighing  for  her  Lord7s  personal  return  that  he  might  at  once 
put  the  finishing  stroke  to  the  work  with  his  own  hand.  But  she 
must  not  throw  back  upon  Him  what  he  has  chosen  to  entrust  to 
her  faithfulness.  When  he  ascended  up  on  high,  leading  captivity 
captive,  he  left  the  command :  “  Go  ye  and  make  disciples  of  all 
the  nations.77  And  the  gifts  which  he  gave,  and  the  powers  he 
engaged  in  their  favor,  were,  no  doubt,  sufficient  for  the  comple¬ 
tion  of  the  enterprise. 

Let  us  look  first  at  the  means  furnished  for  the  purpose.  We 
may  affirm  confidently  that  the  divinely  appointed  means,  which 
are  the  truth  revealed  in  the  Holy  Scriptures,  the  ordinances  and 
institutions  of  the  Church  and  the  privilege  of  prayer,  supply  all 
that  could  be  asked  for  in  the  way  of  means,  for  the  conversion  of 
the  world. 

The  object  cannot  be  promoted  by  force.  “  The  weapons  of  our 
warfare  are  not  carnal.”  Other  systems  of  pretended  religion 
may  be  propagated  by  force.  Ours  never.  Could  the  whole  world 
be  subdued  by  Christian  arms,  and  so  made  to  accept  the  Chris¬ 
tian  name  and  law,  it  would  still  be  as  far  as  ever,  and  perhaps 


8 


ORDAINING  EXERCISES. 


farther,  from  the  true  Christian  religion.  It  can  not  be  promoted 
by  authority.  The  time  has  passed,  we  trust,  when  leaders  may 
do  all  the  thinking  for  their  followers,  and  ignorance  be  deemed 
the  mother  of  devotion.  Men  must  understand  for  themselves, 
and  believe  and  decide  for  themselves,  or  their  faith  will  not  be 
that  of  the  heart.  Nor  can  it  be  advanced  by  tricks  of  sophistry 
and  concealment.  The  only  way  in  which  such  religion  can  be 
propagated  is  by  bringing  out  clearly  and  fully,  and  urging,  by  its 
own  proper  claimant,  on  the  judgments  and  hearts  of  men,  the 
simple  truth  in  its  own  native  beauty  and  majesty. 

For  the  prosecution  of  this  object,  God  has  given  us  the  Holy 
Scriptures,  that  most  wonderful  book — a  vast  repository  of  reli¬ 
gious  truth,  unveiling  to  us  the  hidden  depths  of  our  own  nature, 
and  the  world  unseen,  revealing  God,  and  standing  out  before  all 
ages  as  a  perpetual  witness  of  his  mind  and  will.  He  did  not 
withdraw  himself  behind  the  veil  of  nature,  through  which,  in  the 
infancy  of  the  race,  he  made  his  face  at  times  so  clearly  visible, 
and  his  voice  so  distinctly  heard,  till  he  had  given  to  the  world, 
for  the  advantage  of  all  time,  a  supernatural  revelation.  I  say 
a  supernatural;  and  yet  most  natural.  It  was  given  by  men 
speaking  and  writing  in  their  own  language  and  their  own  forms 
of  thought;  and  the  very  stuff  of  which  it  is  composed  is,  for  the 
most  part,  human  experiences.  And  yet  the  revelation  is  divine. 
It  claims  to  be  so.  It  bears  credentials  clearly  proving  it  to  be 
so.  Its  very  contents  are  a  conclusive  witness  that  it  is  so.  No 
uninspired  man  could  have  produced  such  a  volume.  It  brings 
man  and  God  into  the  closest  relations  and  makes  us  hear  God’s 
voice,  even  as  did  Adam  among  the  trees  of  the  garden.  We 


ORDAINING  EXERCISES. 


9 


work  in  our  great  mission  in  a  human  way ;  but  the  instrument  with 
which  we  work  is  divine.  There  is  a  divine  authority  lying  behind 
it,  and  a  divine  power  going  along  with  it. 

This  instrument,  thus  divinely  provided,  is  of  no  partial  or 

temporary  application.  It  is  addressed  to  man  as  man.  In  all  its 

parts  the  unity  of  the  race  is  assumed  as  a  fundamental  principle. 

The  subjects  of  its  gracious  provisions  are  children  of  one  and  the 

same  human  father.  The  wants  it  is  designed  to  meet  are  those 

flowing  from  one  and  the  same  human  fall.  The  salvation  which  it 

offers  is  the  restoration  of  the  same  divine  image,  and  the  privilege 

of  sonship  with  the  same  Heavenly  Father,  and  a  final  home  in 

the  same  heavenly  mansions.  And,  what  is  more  than  all,  the 

Saviour  whom  it  offers,  and  who  is  the  central  figure  in  all  its 

doctrines,  histories,  promises,  persuasions  and  invitations,  the  “  all 

in  all ”  of  whatsoever  it  undertakes  to  do  or  teach  is  the  Son  of 

Man,  the  second  Adam,  the  embodied  ideal  of  what  man,  as  man, 

ought  to  be,  the  one  centre  of  redemption,  and  the  one  perfect 

model  for  the  entire  human  family.  A  revelation  like  this,  as  may 

be  seen  at  a  glance,  is  adapted  to  the  wants  of  man  in  all  times 

and  under  every  possible  variety  of  human  development.  It 

never  grows  old,  as  our  own  experience  testifies ;  for  at  no 

period  of  the  past  was  it  more  precious  to  men’s  souls  than  we 

have  found  it  in  ours.  A  portion  of  it  was  given  originally  among 

the  Jews  and  shaped  especially  for  them.  Yet  in  those  very  parts 

Gentile  Christians  have  found  more  spiritual  food  than  even  the 

Jews  discovered.  As,  in  the  course  of  ages,  it  has  been  carried 

from  one  nation  to  another,  it  has  been  found  to  possess  the  same 

virtue  and  produce  everywhere  substantially  the  same  fruits.  It 

2 


10 


ORDAINING  EXERCISES. 


has  been  tried  in  high  places  and  in  low,  among  barbarians  and 
in  countries  highly  civilized  and  refined,  in  Africa,  in  Asia,  among 
the  barbarous  islands  of  the  ocean,  in  all  the  countries  of  ancient 
and  modern  Europe,  among  the  savages  of  aboriginal  America  and 
Australia,  and  everywhere,  with  some  diversity  of  degrees  has  it 
proved  its  power  to  make  men  “  wise  unto  eternal  life.77  To  the 
consciences  and  hearts  of  all  classes,  it  has  proved  itself  to 
be  “  quick  and  powerful,  sharper  than  any  two-edged  sword, 
piercing  even  to  the  dividing  asunder  of  the  soul  and  body,  of  the 
joints  and  marrow,  and  a  discerner  of  the  thoughts  and  intents  of 
the  heart.77  To  all  who  have  received  it,  and  become  subject  to 
its  influence,  it  has  proved  “  profitable  for  doctrine,  for  reproof, 
for  correction  and  instruction  in  righteousness.77  And  who  can 
doubt  that  having  done  so  much  and  tried  its  power  successfully 
in  so  great  a  variety  of  circumstances,  it  will  be  found  sufficient  in 
every  future  emergency,  and  contains  within  it  the  seeds  of  reno¬ 
vation  for  the  entire  human  family  ? 

No  doubt  a  great  work  needs  to  be  done  in  unfolding,  illustra¬ 
ting  and  applying  truths  hitherto  partially  latent.  The  Bible  is  a 
deep  mine  which  the  exertions  of  the  best  thinkers  have  as  yet 

but  partially  explored.  Like  the  physical  universe,  the  work  of 

» 

the  same  Master,  it  requires  all  the  attainments  of  the  most 
advanced  science  in  every  age  to  bring  out  and  bring  into  full  use 
its  inexhaustible  riches.  When  the  good  old  pastor  Robinson  said  : 

1  am  verily  persuaded  there  is  more  truth  yet  to  break  forth  out 
of  God7s  holy  Word,77  he  said  that  which  every  generation  might 
repeat,  and  which  is  one  of  the  best  guarantees  for  the  progress  of 
Christianity.  There  is  going  to  be  a  great  contest  over  the 


ORDAINING  EXERCISES. 


11 


questions — “  What  is  the  Bible,  and  what  are  its  claims?77  Infidel¬ 
ity  in  its  various  forms  of  Atheism,  Naturalism,  Pantheism  and 
that  which  calls  itself  rational  Christianity,  is  girding  itself  up  for 
a  desperate  effort,  and  has  been  now  for  a  long  time  collecting 
weapons  of  attack  from  every  quarter.  In  the  fields  of  science, 
philosophy,  history  and  antiquities,  battles  have  but  begun  to  be 
fought,  which  will  require,  on  the  part  of  those  who  should  defend 
the  faith,  the  utmost  vigilance,  courage,  union  and  preparation. 
The  young  men  of  our  day  ought  to  advance  far  beyond  the 
position  of  their  fathers,  and  grapple  vigorously,  according  to 
their  abilities,  with  all  the  questions  affecting  revealed  truth  to 
which  the  public  mind  is  directed.  But  we  have  no  fear  of  the 
result.  It  is  God’s  truth  and  only  needs  to  be  understood,  both  in 
its  own  positions  and  its  relations  to  all  knowledge  in  order  to 
triumph.  All  the  attacks  that  are  made  upon  it  will  but  serve  to 
display  the  more  its  divine  strength. 

I  say,  then,  we  have  no  need  to  have  a  new  revelation  in  order 
to  convert  the  world.  That  which  we  have  is  sufficient.  It  is  as 
good  now  as  it  was  when  it  spread  Christianity  all  along  the 
shores  of  Western  Asia  and  Northern  Africa,  extended  its  sway 
far  away  to  the  Indus,  and  made  of  pagan  Europe  a  united  Chris¬ 
tendom.  And  it  is  just  as  well  adapted  to  convert  the  Japanese 
as  it  was  the  English,  and  the  masses  of  China  and  India,  as  it 
was  those  of  the  Roman  Empire.  And  what  we  say  of  the  Bible 
we  may  say  also  of  the  Church  and  her  institutions,  her  sacraments, 
her  worship,  her  discipline  and  her  ministry.  Only  these  are  to 
be  carried  back  (where  they  have  departed,)  to  their  original 
purity  and  simplicity,  and  used  with  vigor  and  self-devotion, 


12 


ORDAINING  EXERCISES. 


accompanied  with  prayer.  We  want  no  new  Church  and  no  new 
ministry.  The  Christian  ministry,  as  already  established,  is  the 
ministry  for  the  millennium.  The  Christian  Church,  as  the  Apostles 
founded  it,  is  the  Church  for  the  latter  day.  Let  both  fulfill  their 
mission,  and  while  prayer  holds  heaven’s  gate  open  and  keeps  up 
a  living  communication  with  the  Fountain  of  strength,  there  need 
be  no  discouragement  in  the  widest  efforts  for  the  evangelization 
of  mankind. 

II.  But  we  are  pointed  to  the  obstacles — they  are  so  formid¬ 
able  !  How  can  we  ever  reach  the  remote  masses  ?  How  get 
access  to  their  minds  ?  How  overcome  their  prejudices  ?  How 
get  the  truths  of  the  Gospel  within  their  knowledge  and  in  contact 
with  their  hearts  ?  To  this  I  answer,  there  is  a  Providence ,  and 
that  Providence  is  on  the  side  of  the  Gospel.  We  may  affirm 
with  the  same  confidence,  in  the  second  place,  that  the  Providence 
of  God,  working  according  to  its  ordinary  methods ,  is  sufficient  for 
the  removal  of  all  the  obstacles  and  the  supply  of  all  the  requisite 
facilities. 

We  have  witnessed  in  our  day  wonderful  changes.  The  world 
in  which  we  live  is,  in  many  respects,  very  different  from  that  into 
which  we  were  born.  The  most  widely  separated  tribes  live 
very  near  to  each  other  in  comparison  with  what  they  did  fifty 
years  ago.  Who  would  have  dreamed  then  of  crossing  an  entire 
continent  at  a  continuous  speed  of  twenty  or  thirty  miles  in  the 
hour  ?  Who  would  not  have  thought  the  scheme  visionary  which 
must  depend  for  its  success  on  the  conveyance  of  intelligence 
across  the  Atlantic  in  less  time  than  would  be  required  for  a 
messenger  to  ride  post  haste  to  the  next  village  ?  But  would  such 


ORDAINING  EXERCISES. 


13 


a  scheme  appear  visionary  now  ?  And  how  have  this  and  the  like 
changes  been  effected  ?  By  a  series  of  fortunate  accidents,  says 
the  Atheist.  By  the  natural  course  of  events,  says  the  man  of 
the  world.  By  God’s  all-wise,  all-controlling  Providence,  says 
the  Christian  Philosopher.  There  is  a  divine  power  working 
always  in  the  affairs  of  the  world,  it  makes  no  show.  It  disturbs 
no  material  laws.  Looking  back  over  its  path  you  find  the  series 
of  effect  from  cause  evervwhere  unbroken.  Yet  marvellous  results 
come  to  pass.  Events  which  once  seemed  not  to  be  thought  of 
take  place  quietly  as  a  matter  of  every  day  occurrence  ;  so  that  we 
are  able  to  accomplish  by  our  own  natural  strength  what  would  once 
have  surpassed  the  power  of  all  humanity  combined. 

And  what  is  true  in  the  natural  world  is  true  also  in  the  moral. 
God  has  not  taken  his  finger  off  from  either,  since  he  put  in  motion 
the  wheels  of  nature  and  of  man’s  natural  life.  He  controls  all 
the  forces  of  society,  all  the  operations  of  governments,  all  the 
intercourse  of  nations,  all  the  changes  of  popular  feeling  and 
opinion.  Those  who  watch  carefully  the  movements  of  the  world 
can  often  see  in  them  unmistakeable  evidence  of  a  purpose.  But 
whose  purpose  ?  Not  that  of  the  men  who  act  in  and  seem 
to  govern  those  movements.  For  it  is  a  very  different  one  from 
that  which  they  have  had  in  their  minds.  It  combines  for  its 
accomplishment  forces  over  which  they  have  not  the  slightest  con¬ 
trol,  and  is  brought  about,  even  where  it  employs  their  actions , 
directly  against  their  intentions.  This  was  signally  illustrated 
in  the  case  of  our  own  recent  war.  The  most  casual  observer 
could  hardly  fail  to  discern  tokens  of  it.  The  result  was  not  in 
the  design  of  either  of  the  parties,  yet  successes  and  defeats  were 


14 


ORDAINING  EXERCISES. 


made  equally  to  contribute  to  it.  Who  formed  that  purpose? 
Who  made  the  combinations  necessary  to  carry  it  into  effect  ? 
Of  course  it  was  not  a  matter  of  accident — that  has  no  purpose. 
Of  course  it  could  not  be  ascribed  to  men.  None  of  them  fully 
comprehended  it.  We  have  no  recourse,  then,  but  to  ascribe  it  to 
God.  And  the  same  divine  intelligence,  employing  the  same 
divine  power,  is  in  operation  everywhere,  determining  all  things  in 
the  on-goings  of  the  world,  according  to  the  counsels  of  his  own 
wise,  Infinite  will. 

Now  what  we  affirm  is,  that  this  divine  Providence,  acting  in 
accordance  with  a  divine  purpose,  acting  now,  acting  always ,  acting 
not  against  nature  but  in  nature’s  own  sphere,  is  adequate  to  the 
removal  of  every  obstacle  and  the  supply  of  every  facility  for  the 
conversion  of  the  world  by  human  instrumentality.  We  used  to 
speak  of  the  imperviousness  of  China — a  people  rigidly  excluding 
themselves  from  foreign  intercourse — a  people  of  fixed  customs 
and  fixed  ideas,  changeless  for  ages.  How  could  those  millions  of 
human  souls  ever  be  reached  ?  But  what  have  we  seen  ?  A 
mighty  movement,  agitating  that  vast  empire  to  its  centre,  in  the 
interest  of  a  misconceived  and  adulterated,  yet  not  without  some 
obscure  rudiments  of  a  true  Christianity.  The  little  leaven 
ferments.  The  mighty  multitudes  “  feel  after  if  haply  they  may 
find.77  And  what  again  ?  The  pagan  rulers  of  those  hundreds  of 
millions,  of  their  own  accord,  asking  admission  to  the  society  of 
Christian  nations,  and  selecting  an  American  citizen  to  negotiate 
in  their  behalf  the  treaty  of  intercourse  !  We  used  to  hear  much 
of  the  caste  system  of  India;  but  it  is  melting  away  like  the  dew  of 
the  morning.  Slavery  seemed  to  us  ten  years  ago  so  entrenched 


ORDAINING  EXERCISES. 


15 


among  ns,  that  nothing  could  overthrow  it.  But  it  is  gone,  never 
to  be  restored.  These  are  specimens  of  the  providential  changes 
which  we  see  going  on  all  the  world  over.  Thus  is  the  way  open¬ 
ing  for  the  free  access  of  the  Gospel,  and  the  influence  of  Christen¬ 
dom  made  to  bear  on  the  most  secluded  portions  of  heathendom. 
Thus  have  mountains  of  prejudice  been  scaled,  and  strong  for¬ 
tresses  of  superstition  been  demolished.  Wars,  revolutions,  the 
enterprises  of  the  discoverer  and  the  emigrant,  all  the  improve¬ 
ments  of  science  and  the  arts,  every  step  of  advance  in  civiliza¬ 
tion,  social  culture  and  thought,  are  made  to  serve  as  provi¬ 
dential  instruments  for  this  end.  Commerce  is  pushing  its 
bold  way  east,  west,  north,  south,  everywhere  demanding  as  its 
right  free  intercourse,  and  carrying  with  it  facilities  of  which  the 
Christian  adventurer  may  make  use.  And  everywhere  is  heard 
not  always  with  philanthropic,  and  still  less  with  Christian  aims, 
but  yet  effectively,  the  prophetic  cry,  “  Go  through,  go  through 
the  gates,  prepare  ye  the  way  of  the  people,  cast  up,  cast  the  high¬ 
way,  gather  out  the  stones,  lift  up  a  standard  for  the  people.77 

I  know  that  what  we  call  the  improvements  of  the  age,  do  not 
always  tell  directly  on  the  progress  of  the  Gospel.  We  shall  be 
told  that  infidelity  is  increasing.  That  may  be  true.  It  is  not 
the  office  of  Divine  Providence  to  convert  the  world  by  its  own 
agencies.  All  we  can  expect  of  it  is  to  prepare  the  "way,  break 
down  the  barriers,  plough  the  soil,  afford  the  facilities ;  and  if  the 
Church  does  not  seize  the  advantage,  no  doubt  the  enemy  of  all 
good  will.  But  the  Providence  of  God  can  furnish  every  needed 
opportunity.  And  this  it  can  do  to  any  desirable  extent,  without 
transcending  in  the  least  degree  its  most  regular  and  ordinary 


16 


ORDAINING  EXERCISES. 


methods.  Thus  is  the  prophetic  voice  verified,  “  Every  valley  shall 
be  filled  and  every  mountain  shall  be  made  low.77  And  thus  the 
word  of  the  Lord,  faithfully  preached  by  his  servants,  “  shall  have 
free  course  and  be  glorified.77 

III.  But  there  is  one  point  more  not  to  be  overlooked.  It 
may  be  said,  all  this  does  not  meet  the  necessities  of  the  case. 
The  power  which  makes  the  Christian  does  not  lie  either  in  the 
facilities  or  the  means.  St.  Paul  said  of  himself :  “  I  have 
planted,  Apollos  watered,  but  God  gave  the  increase.77  The  divine 
power  which  gives  the  increase,  belongs  neither  to  the  word  nor 
Providence  of  God,  but  to  his  grace. 

Let  me  say,  then,  in  the  third  place,  that  the  established  opera¬ 
tions  of  divine  grace,  the  influences  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  as  they 
now  descend  and  have  been  descending  with  greater  or  less 
power  for  two  thousand  years,  without  a  miracle,  without  any 
agency,  not  in  constant  operation  in  a  greater  or  less  degree,  are 
sufficient  to  give  such  efficiency  to  the  preaching  of  the  Word  as 
to  accomplish  the  object  in  view. 

I  need  not  stay  to  prove  here  the  reality  of  the  Spirit’s  influ¬ 
ence.  It  is  on  this  alone  that  we  rely  for  the  conversion  of  a 
single  soul.  It  is,  no  doubt,  subject  to  its  own  laws.  God  never 
acts  arbitrarily,  though  he  acts  freely.  But  we  cannot  trace  them. 
Why  it  descends  more  copiously  at  one  place  or  time  than  another, 
we  cannot  tell.  Some  powerful  effusions  which  we  have  witnessed 
show  what  it  can  do,  when  God  wills,  without  at  all  changing  its 
character.  What  are  called  “  revivals  of  religion,77  »  great 
awakenings,77  &c.,  have  been  known  in  the  Church  since  the  days 
of  the  Apostles.  The  scene  at  Pentecost  was  one  of  them.  The 


ORDAINING  EXERCISES. 


17 


English  missionaries  in  the  Southern  Pacific  labored  sixteen  years 
without  a  single  conversion.  “  The  heavens  above  them,”  they 
say,  “  seemed  as  "brass,  and  the  earth  under  them  as  iron.”  In 
the  very  night  of  their  despondency  the  voice  of  prayer  was  heard 
from  the  lips  of  a  native.  It  was  the  beginning  of  a  most  wonder, 
fill  change.  The  flame  spread  and  soon  enveloped  the  islands. 
And  while  the  ship  was  on  its  way,  conveying  from  their  noble 
English  patrons,  the  resolution  sooner  to  “  sell  their  garments  from 
their  backs  than  give  up  the  enterprise,”  another  was  on  its  way 
carrying  back  the  intelligence  that  a  whole  people  had  abandoned 
their  idols.  We  look  upon  such  changes  as  these  and  exclaim, 
What  has  God  wrought !  In  our  astonishment  we  almost  feel 
ourselves  in  the  presence  of  a  miracle.  But  there  is  no  miracle. 
All  the  ordinary  causal  sequences,  physical  and  moral,  are  going  on 
just  as  they  are  wont  to  do.  No  new  law  of  the  human  mind  has 
been  introduced,  no  old  law  in  the  slightest  degree  disturbed. 
Nor  are  such  occurrences  altogether  infrequent.  They  are  to  be 
found  in  the  history  of  all  our  Missions — in  the  Sandwich  Islands, 
in  Ceylon,  in  China,  in  Africa,  as  well  as  in  various  parts  of  Europe 
and  America.  The  truth  is,  the  grace  of  God,  since  the  mission  of 
the  Spirit  has  obtained  a  settled  home  among  the  forces  of  nature. 
It  is  not  of  them,  yet  is  in  perfect  harmony  with  them.  God  acts 
in  it  as  a  sovereign,  for  it  is  a  sphere  reserved,  so  to  speak,  for  his 
own  direct  spiritual  agency.  Yet  its  benefits  are  dispensed  ordi¬ 
narily  on  established  conditions.  The  prayers  and  efforts  of  the 
Church,  the  faithful  preaching  and  inculcation  of  the  Word,  have 
a  vital  relation  to  it.  A  preparatory  work,  both  in  the  Church 

and  the  world,  always  precedes  its  more  powerful  manifestations. 
3 


18 


ORDAINING  EXERCISES. 


But  when  the  fullness  of  the  time  comes,  and  the  Spirit  is  poured 
out  like  the  rain,  there  is  no  show,  no  violence,  no  mighty  physical 
signs,  but  only  “  a  still  small  voice  77  in  men7s  hearts. 

Now  what  if  these  occurrences  should  become  more  frequent? 
What  if  that  which  is  now  occasional  should  become  constant  ? 
What  if  the  breadth  of  their  operations  should  be  enlarged  ? 
What  if  the  power  manifested  in  them  should  become  more 
intense  ?  How  easy  would  it  seem,  under  the  faithful  preaching  of 
the  Word,  with  the  prayers  and  efforts  of  the  whole  Church, 
Divine  Providence  having  opened  the  way,  to  accomplish  the  con¬ 
version  of  the  world  ?  What  we  have  witnessed  in  our  own 
country,  within  a  few  years,  may  serve  as  an  illustration.  Such 
results  could  not  be  repeated  often  or  continued  long,  without 
bringing  to  God  almost  the  entire  population.  And  all  so 
naturally !  As  the  rain  descends,  and  as  the  sun  shines,  so  does 
the  Spirit  of  God  come,  and  the  whole  face  of  society  is  changed ! 
It  would  not  take  long  for  the  superstitions  of  ages  to  be  dissipa¬ 
ted,  the  iron  bands  of  prejudice  to  be  broken,  the  idols  utterly 
demolished,  and  the  whole  earth  covered  with  “  the  knowledge  of 
"the  glory  of  the  Lord!77 

And  why  should  we  not  expect  such  a  result?  Why  should  not 
we  pray  for  it  ?  Why  not  labor  with  direct  reference  to  it,  hoping 
and  trusting  in  the  “  exceeding  great  and  precious  promises  of 
God  ?77  If  I  am  not  mistaken,  there  are  such  promises  bestudding  the 
pages  of  the  Old  and  New  Testaments.  The  present  is  the  dis¬ 
pensation  of  the  Spirit,  in  which,  while  Nature  goes  on  in  her  old 
course,  Divine  Providence  controls  the  outer  world,  and  the  Holy 
Spirit  of  God  works  by  human  means  in  men’s  hearts.  And  there 


ORDAINING  EXERCISES. 


19 


are  promises  not  yet  fulfilled,  of  mighty  outpourings  of  tlie  Spirit  in 
the  latter  day.  It  may  take  a  long  time  for  the  accomplishment  of 
the  object.  God’s  preparatory  work  has  been  going  on  already  nearly 
two  thousand  years,  and  He  is  still  overturning,  overturning,  over¬ 
turning.  But  the  the  signs  of  the  times  indicate  a  steady  advance* 
Be  sure  He  has  not  forgotten  any  of  his  promises.  The  dispensation 
of  the  Spirit  will  not  cease  till  the  mission  work  of  the  Spirit  has 
been  fully  accomplished.  This  fallen  world  is  not  to  be  destroyed 
till  it  has  been  converted.  It  is  to  be  converted  not  by  a  catas¬ 
trophe  in  nature,  or  a  miraculous  sign  from  heaven,  but  by  the 
agency  of  Christian  men,  acting  in  the  line  of  Christian  duty,  in 
dependence  on  the  Word,  Providence  and  grace  of  God. 

Why  then  should  not  the  Church  awake  at  once  to  her  high 
privilege,  awake  from  her  apathy  and  worldliness,  awake  also 
from  her  too  faithless  discouragement.  Let  her  put  on  her  strength ; 
let  her  bring  forth  her  resources;  let  her  take  in  the  whole  compass 
of  her  great  work ;  let  her  aim  be  the  completed  enterprise ; 
let  her  run  her  race  steadily  and  energetically  with  her  eye  fixed 
on  the  goal. 

It  is  with  such  an  aim  that  we  have  entered,  in  these  modern 
times,  on  the  missionary  work.  “  The  field  is  the  world.’7  We  have 
compassed  it  in  our  plans.  We  have  compassed  a  large  portion  of 
it  in  our  actual  explorations.  And  we  mean  to  compass  it  by  God’s 
help  in  our  beneficent  efforts.  There  are  the  heathen  to  be  con¬ 
verted.  There  are  the  degraded  masses  in  Christian  lands  to  be 
lifted  up.  There  are  the  old  fallen  Christian  churches  to  be  resus¬ 
citated,  or  their  members  disenthralled  from  superstition  and 
error,  and  drawn  off  into  purer  and  more  spiritual  organizations. 


20 


ORDAINING  EXERCISES. 


And  the  Church  can  do  it.  She  intends  to  do  it.  Ay,  she  must 
do  it. 

Into  this  last  department  of  the  great  work,  you  my  young 
brother,  who  are  now  to  be  set  apart,  by  the  laying  on  of  hands 
and  prayer,  to  the  Christian  ministry,  are  preparing  to  enter.  This 
is  to  you,  I  know,  a  moment  of  intensest  interest — an  interest,  need 
1  say,  in  which  your  pastor,  who,  from  your  boyhood,  has  regarded 
you  with  peculiar  tenderness,  watching  over  and  assisting  to  direct, 
with  something  of  the  warm  affection  of  a  father  for  a  son,  your  intel¬ 
lectual  and  spiritual  development,  very  deeply  participates.  Fresh 
in  my  memory  is  the  time,  when,  a  mere  child,  you  whispered  in  my 
ear,  timidly,  the  wish  and  purpose  to  become  a  minister  of  the 
Gospel,  and  equally  so  that  still  more  solemn  hour,  when  side  by 
side  with  that  honored  mother  who  now  gives  you  up,  not  without 
some  natural  maternal  shrinkings,  to  the  work  of  a  missionary  in 
a  foreign  land,  as  she  then  gave  you  with  herself  to  the  unconditional 
service  of  Christ,  you  professed  publicly  in  this  house  your  choice 
of  Him  for  your  portion,  and  took  upon  yourself  the  vows  of  the 
everlasting  covenant.  That  wish  and  purpose,  long  the  subject  of 
your  prayers,  God  permits  you  now  to  fulfill.  It  was  He,  I  doubt 
not,  who  disposed  you  to  become  a  missionary.  Not  without  much 
thought  and  deliberation,  not  without  great  strength  and  clearness 
of  conviction,  not  without  ample  time  taken  to  test,  under  a  variety 
of  circumstances,  the  sincerity  and  wisdom  of  your  choice,  have 
you  consecrated  your  life,  with  all  your  powers,  to  this  department 
of  service. 

I  give  you  joy,  my  dear  young  brother,  in  the  auspicious  pros¬ 
pects  now  opening  before  you.  You  have  engaged  in  a  work 


ORDAINING  EXERCISES. 


21 


second  to  none  that  ever  occupied,  or  could  occupy  the  powers 
of  a  mortal,  in  the  mission  to  which  you  are  appointed,  you 
will  enroll  your  name  with  those  of  some  of  the  noblest  and  most 
successful  soldiers  of  the  cross,  now  with  the  sainted  dead — with 
those  of  Fiske  and  Parsons,  and  Goodell  and  Bird,  and  Eli  Smith 
and  Whiting,  and  Hebard — names  honored  on  earth  for  all  time, 
and  honored,  1  doubt  not,  in  heaven.  You  will  be  associated  in 
your  work  with  some  of  the  ablest  and  best  men  of  the  age,  in 
whose  counsels  you  will  share,  and  in  whose  wise  plans  it  will 
be  a  privilege  to  co-operate.  The  location  of  your  mission  is  on 
ground  memorable  in  history.  Its  position  is  such  as  cannot  but 
give  it  in  the  future,  a  vast  influence  on  the  destinies  of  the  world 
— at  the  very  centre  of  political  and  commercial  power,  in  the 
highway  of  the  nations. 

Gird  yourself  then  to  your  great  work  with  a  holy  energy. 
Give  yourself  wholly  to  it.  Take  to  yourself  the  whole  armor 
of  God.  Place  before  you  for  your  aim,  nothing  less  than  the 
glory  of  Christ  in  the  conversion  of  this  lost  world  to  his  love. 
It  cannot,  will  not  fail.  If  not  in  earth,  no  doubt  in  heaven,  you 
will  rejoice  over  its  perfect  accomplishment.  And  whether  we, 
who  now  bid  you  God  speed  as  we  send  you  forth,  shall  ever 
meet  you  or  not  again  in  this  world,  may  we  see,  in  God’s  great 
day,  your  crown  of  righteousness,  and  hear  the  Master’s  voice 
bidding  you  welcome,  as  a  tried  and  faithful  servant,  to  “  the  ever¬ 
lasting  kingdom  and  joy  of  your  Redeemer.” 

Brethren  and  friends  we  have  all  of  us  in  this  matter  a  personal 

t 

responsibility.  Our  young  brethren  must  not  go  forth  unattended 
with  our  sympathies  and  prayers,  and  our  faithful  pledges  of 


22 


ORDAINING  EXERCISES. 


support  and  co-operation.  This  work  is  not  theirs  only.  It  is 
ours  as  well.  We  cannot  do  our  part  by  delegation  only.  Our 
Lord  expects  of  us  personal  service.  To  each  and  all  is  the  com¬ 
mission  given  :  “  I  have  set  thee  to  be  a  light  unto  the  nations.77 

Thee !  whom  ?  Thee,  Christian.  Thee,  least  of  his  disciples. 
Thee,  ransomed  sinner,  purchased  with  his  blood  !  Consider  the 
object — a  world  lying  in  wickedness,  to  be  filled  with  the  glory  of 
God !  Consider  the  responsibility.  Our  Lord  will  come  soon  to 
take  account  of  his  servants.  Consider  the  obligation.  “  Bought 
with  a  price  !77  Look,  my  friends,  at  your  Bibles,  your  Sabbath 
Schools,  your  pleasant  Christian  sanctuaries,  your  family  altars 
and  your  closets.  The  wants  of  millions  of  our  brother-men  who 
have  none  of  these,  cry,  “  come  and  help  us  !77  Ay,  the  Master 
himself,  He  who  has  saved  us,  He  with  whom  we  hope  to  dwell  in 
glory  forever,  looks  from  his  heavenly  throne  and  reminds  us  of 
gratitude  :  “  Freely  ye  have  received,  freely  give77 — give  in  every 
way  in  which  his  goodness  may  enable  you  ;  give  of  your  money, 
give  of  your  prayers,  give  of  your  children,  give  your  warmest 
sympathies  and  most  efficient  endeavors.  0,  if  there  is  a  people 
in  the  world  to  whom  these  words  come  with  power,  it  is  we: 
“  Freely  ye  have  received,  freely  give.77 


My  Dear  Brother,  and  I  may  here  add,  beloved  associate 
and  friend  : — The  time  draws  nigh  when  the  delightful  fellowship 
of  labor,  maintained  between  ns  for  the  last  eighteen  months,  must 
cease,  and  we  are  to  part — I  remaining  at  home  to  carry  alone  the 
burden  you  have  been  kindly  helping  me  bear — and  you,  to  convey 
abroad  the  divine  commission  which  you  have  been  delivering 
here.  However  many  the  occasions  for  regret  at  such  a  separa¬ 
tion,  with  me  and  my  people,  there  is  none  who  would  interpose 
them  to  detain  you  among  us  in  opposition  to  the  call  which 
your  soul  has  heard  from  the  great  Master  to  depart  hence 
and  bear  witness  for  Him  among  those  who  have  not  heard  His 
name,  or,  having  heard,  sadly  misapprehend  its  gracious  import. 
The  cause  of  Christ  and  His  redemption  is  too  grand  to  be  im¬ 
peded  by  personal  considerations ;  and  we  know  that  were  you  to 
love  home  and  friends  and  the  pleasures  of  Christian  society,  more 
than  Christ  himself,  you  would  not  be  worthy  of  Christ,  nor  suited 
to  represent  Him  even  among  us.  The  minister  who  is  not  ready 
to  be  a  missionary,  should  the  summons  be  made  to  him,  is  not  true 
to  his  office,  and  dishonors  his  title.  When  you  tell  us,  therefore, 


24 


ORDAINING  EXERCISES. 


that  you  have  *  heard  distinctly  the  missionary  call,  we  recognize 
its  imperativeness,  and  crowning  you  with  our  benedictions  and 
prayers,  we  say,  “  Go,  and  the  Lord  go  with  thee,  and  make  thee  a 
blessing  to  others,  even  as  thou  hast  been  to  us.7’ 

In  discharging  the  duty  of  the  occasion,  which,  at  your  request, 
has  been  imposed  on  me,  you  need  not  that  I  should  say  much 
unto  you.  By  your  labors  among  us,  you  have  already  given 
proof,  that  in  the  matter  of  the  ministry,  you  are  a  workman  that 
need  not  be  ashamed.  All  that  is  needed  is  that  you  go  on  as  you 
have  begun,  preaching  the  Word  in  all  fidelity  and  tenderness,  and 
laboring  both  publicly  and  privately,  in  season  and  out  of  season, 
by  example  and  counsel,  to  impress  its  unspeakable  importance  on 
the  minds  of  men. 

Passing  by,  therefore,  the  ordinary  exhortations  pertinent  to  the 
general  subject  of  the  ministry,  let  me  come  directly  to  those 
thoughts  which  are  suggested  by  your  future  vocation  as  a  mission¬ 
ary.  This  is  distinguished  from  that  you  have  hitherto  fulfilled,  not 
so  much  in  substance  as  in  form,  being  modified  by  the  peculiari¬ 
ties  of  the  field  wherein  you  are  to  labor.  And  this  field  will  be  a 
new  one — new  in  every  respect ;  not  only  new  as  to  spiritual  cul¬ 
ture,  but  new  also  to  you ,  as  it  respects  the  people  you  are  to  labor 
among,  and  the  instruments  you  are  to  labor  with.  Not  as  here, 
will  you  find  things  ready  made  to  your  hands,  and  the  advantage 
of  entering  upon  other  men7s  labors.  Your  business  will  be  the 
harder  and  rougher  one  of  laying  foundations  in  a  soil  that  has  to 
be  cleared  from  encumbrances  of  gigantic  superstitions  and  errors, 
centuries  old.  And  not  only  so.  The  ruins  and  rubbish  of  a  Chris¬ 
tianity  that  has  been  strangely  perverted  and  gone  to  decay  now 


ORDAINING  EXERCISES. 


25 


likewise  cover  the  region  where  yon  are  to  plant  churches  of  a 
purer  faith— even  the  living  temples  of  an  indwelling  God.  And 
here  you  will  be  obliged  to  toil  long,  and  toil  obscurely,  before  as 
yet  the  very  first  stones  of  the  edifice  can  be  laid,  and  the  struc¬ 
ture  begin  to  rise  which  shall  gladden  your  eyes  as  the  permanent 
result  and  reward  of  your  workmanship.  In  most  instances  your 
problem  will  be  not  how  or  what  you  shall  preach,  but  how  you 
shall  gather  your  congregation  to  preach  to,  and  where  you  shall 
assemble  the  people.  Thus  you  will  be  brought  down  to  the  very 
rudiments  of  evangelical  labor  and  into  close  resemblance  to  our 

v _ / 

blessed  Lord  and  the  Apostles,  at  the  commencement  of  their  min¬ 
istry.  Like  them,  you  will  be  obliged  to  begin  by  addressing  the 
individual ,  wherever  he  may  be  found — putting  yourself  in  per¬ 
sonal  contact  with  men,  women  and  children,  in  the  house  and  by 
the  way  and  at  the  market — improving  all  opportunities  to  present 
to  them  Jesus,  and  turning  all  incidents  to  best  account.  For 
work  such  as  this  you  will  require  the  tactics  of  the  Apostle  Paul, 
whose  example  in  dealing  with  men  for  God  I  would  specially 
commend  to  your  earnest  study  and  imitation.  Like  him  begin  by 
counting  all  things  but  loss  for  Christ’s  sake — learning,  eloquence, 
reputation,  chances  for  using  and  displaying  high  gifts  and  attain¬ 
ments — let  it  all  go  in  the  simple  endeavor  to  lay  hold  of  men  and 
bring  them  to  repentance  and  faith.  At  Athens,  you  will  remem¬ 
ber,  Paul  stood  on  Mars’  Hill,  and  made  a  great  speech;  probably 
one  of  “  his  most  splendid  efforts.”  But  at  Athens  Paul’s  success 
was  small;  no  church,  that  we  read  of,  did  he  found  there.  At 
Corinth  he  repudiated  all  “  wisdom  of  words,”  and  “  in  weakness 

and  fear  and  much  trembling,”  he  wrought  among  the  poor  and 

4 


26 


ORDAINING  EXERCISES. 


despised  of  society  by  the  simplest  personal  address;  and  there, 
in  that  most  depraved  of  cities,  the  Lord  “  gave  him  much  people.  77 
Here,  I  take  it,  is  a  lesson  for  all  ministers,  but  especially  for  a 
missionary.  If  ever  a  person  needs  to  employ  the  power  of  direct 
personal  influence,  coming  into  close,  earnest  contact  with  the  peo¬ 
ple,  in  all  meekness  and  love,  it  is  he.  And  in  doing  this  work, 
you  will,  like  Paul,  need  to  cultivate  great  versatility  of  character, 
“  becoming  all  things  to  all  men 77 ;  adapting  yourself  to  their 
ways  of  life  and  modes  of  thought,  if  so  be  you  might  get  at  them 
and  cause  them  to  feel  the  warmth  and  sincerity  of  your  personal 
interest  in  their  welfare.  As  far  as  possible,  close  the  gap  which 
diversity  of  civilization  creates  between  different  nationalities,  and 
partake  with  them  in  their  carnal  things,  so  that  they  may  the 
more  readily  partake  of  your  spiritual  things.  Show  the  sympa¬ 
thizing,  compassionate  heart  everywhere.  Here  will  be  the  hiding 
of  your  power.  It  was  one  secret  of  our  Lord7s  mighty  influence 
that  “  He  had  compassion  on  multitudes,77  and  made  the  humblest 
and  neediest  feel  its  warmth  and  cheer.  In  proportion,  then,  as 
you  show  the  people  that  you  love  "them,  feel  for  them,  can  stoop 
to  their  conditions  without  evincing  condescension,  desire  their 
salvation  and  elevation  in  all  good,  will  be  the  strength  of  your 
hold  upon  them,  and  also  their  readiness  to  receive  the  Gospel  at 
your  lips.  Exhibit  neither  surprise  nor  contempt  at  the  alien 
manners  and  customs  you  may  encounter.  Observe  the  strictest 
courtesy,  presuming  not  in  the  least  upon  your  superiority  of  cul¬ 
ture  or  upon  the  powers  of  your  commission.  Before  attempting 
to  rebuke  or  correct,  aim  to  understand.  Judge  things  not  only 
from  your  own  point  of  view,  but  also  from  the  stand  occupied  by 


ORDAINING  EXERCISES. 


27 


the  people  you  are  among.  Maintaining  a  wise  indifference  to  non- 
essentials,  abide  firmly  by  the  essentials  alone,  both  of  morality 
and  religion.  Be  ready  to  use  all  agencies  and  instrumentalities 
which  God  may  put  in  your  way  for  furthering  the  one  great  ob¬ 
ject,  without  being  too  scrupulous  as  to  their  exact  suitableness  in 
all  things.  Consider  how  God  consents  to  employ  us,  and,  as  He 
sees  us,  we  are  far  from  perfect.  Let  us  not  be  more  scrupulous 
than  God.  We  must  consent  to  work  with  the  materials  we  have, 
and  show  our  skill  in  using  poor  tools  to  the  best  advantage.  Re¬ 
member,  poor  tools  in  the  moral  world  grow  better  by  good 
usage. 

In  dealing  with  men,  wayward,  crooked,  perverse,  of  dull  moral 
perceptions,  ready  to  turn  the  very  Gospel  you  preach  and  the 
advantages  you  bring  into  means  of  promoting  their  own  selfish 
ends,  your  patience  will  often  be  tried  to  the  utmost  and  your 
animosities  greatly  provoked.  It  was  so  with  Paul ;  and  in  such 
cases,  most  of  all  will  you  need  Paul's  spirit,  which  was  also  the 
spirit  of  Christ.  Let  personal  considerations  be  ever  entirely 
submerged.  So  far  as  offences  and  injuries  and  insults  affect  you 
personally,  let  it  not  appear  that  you  have  noticed  them.  The 
obtrusion  of  self  in  any  issue  taken  is  fatal  to  spiritual  influence. 
As  soon  as  it  is  observed  that  personal  motives  are  bearing  sway  in 
your  decisions,  that  moment  you  neutralize  the  power  of  your  posi¬ 
tion  as  a  missionary  who  professes  to  have  renounced  self  for  the 
good  of  others,  and  who,  on  this  ground,  presses  his  claim  to  be  heard 
and  heeded.  Ever  keep  yourself,  therefore,  on  the  high  level  of 
one  who  can  even  “  take  pleasure  in  infirmities,  in  reproaches,  in 
necessities,  in  persecutions  for  Christ's  sake."  Carry  everywhere 


28 


ORDAINING  EXERCISES. 


the  majestic  attitude  of  one  who  can  say  with  clear  look  “  I  seek 
not  yours  but  you.77 

One  of  the  prime  conditions  for  discharging  your  duties  will  be 

t 

the  acquisition  of  the  language  of  the  people  you  labor  among. 
This,  therefore,  must  be  one  of  the  first  things  securing  attention. 
But  the  acquisition  of  a  language  for  oral  uses,  can  be  cloister 
work  only  in  small  part.  The  power  of  speech  comes  through 
hearing  and  practice.  Hence  it  will  be  for  your  profit  to  mingle 
much  with  the  people  from  the  beginning,  and  courageously  to  use 
every  particle  of  knowledge  you  may  get  in  the  effort  to  acquire 
more.  As  it  is  the  policy  of  the  merchant  to  make  every  “  dollar 
chase  a  dollar,77  so  must  it  be  yours  to  set  every  word  to  catch  a 
word.  Shrink  not  through  fear  of  mistakes.  It  is  the  bold  swim¬ 
mer  that  soonest  acquires  the  art.  Launch  out,  therefore,  at  every 
opportunity.  Count  on  blundering  and  learn  from  it.  Now  and 
then  we  find  a  missionary  who  utterly  fails,  simply  through 
fear  of  failing.  Even  in  the  matter  of  learning  a  language, 
one  must  be  willing  “  to  be  counted  a  fool  that  he  may  become 
wise.77 

In  your  first  efforts  in  missionary  work  there  will  be  much  to 
dishearten.  Here  is  a  danger  you  will  have  to  encounter  at  the 
outset.  It  is  then  that  the  contrast  between  your  own  ineffective¬ 
ness  and  the  magnitude  of  the  work  before  you  will  strike  you 
most  appallingly,  and  you  will  be  disposed  to  feel  that  you  were 
wasting  powers  and  energies  to  little  purpose.  But  against  all 
such  discouragements,  bear  in  mind  that  you  are  neither  to  mea¬ 
sure  duty  by  the  amount  or  even  by  chances  of  success  ;  nor  yet  to 
judge  of  probabilities  of  success  by  appearances.  Remember  the 


ORDAINING  EXERCISES. 


29 


parable  of  the  mustard  seed ;  and  while  you  are  busy  with  small 
things,  obeying  the  orders  of  the  great  Husbandman,  be  cheered 
with  the  thought  that  results  are  with  Him  and  He  giveth  increase 
to  the  smallest  things,  making  them  great  to  the  praise  of  His  power. 
The  consideration  that  is  to  sustain  and  urge  you  onward  amid  all 
disheartenments  is,  that  you  are  fulfilling  the  behests  if  your  Lord 
and  Master,  and  that  your  reward  will  be  according  to  your  fidelity 
and  not  according  to  your  success. 

Another  point  to  be  considered  is  your  association  with  other 
missionaries.  In  consequence  of  this  association,  you  will  not  be 
at  liberty  to  act  with  entire  independence.  In  all  co-operative 
labor  it  will  be  necessary  to  adopt  some  general  policy  in  which 
all  parties  shall  concur.  With  this,  as  already  existing,  it  will 
be  for  )rour  comfort  and  the  comfort  of  your  brethren  that  you 
cordially  comply.  But  while  you  endeavor  to  fall  in  with  existing 
arrangements,  do  not  on  your  part  attempt  to  press  your  method  of 
working  upon  others.  Allow  the  largest  liberty  consistent  with 
unity  of  aim.  Paul  had  his  way  of  working  and  Peter  his.  One 
thought  he  could  accomplish  the  most  good  by  supporting  himself 
and  refusing  “  to  lead  about  a  wife  or  a  sister ;  11  while  the  other 
accepted  support  and  enjoyed  companionship.  But  neither  Apostle 
thought  of  making  his  own  policy  paramount  over  that  of  the 
other.  And  so  let  it  be  with  you.  Remember  that  the  aptitudes 
and  gifts  of  men  vary,  and  that  the  method  most  suited  for  success 
with  one  person  may  utterly  neutralize  the  efforts  of  another. 
Let  Saul  wear  his  armor  and  David  carry  his  sling.  The  point  is  to 
kill  Goliath  and  rout  the  Philistines,  and  honored  will  be  he  who 

t 

can  accomplish  that.  And  if  you  see  that  it  is  some  humbler  per- 


30 


ORDAINING  EXERCISES. 


son  than  yourself  who  has  been  called  to  achieve  the  victory,  let 
not  the  evil  spirit  of  the  jealous  Saul  prevent  you  from  joining 
in  the  hosannas  which  the  event  elicits.  The  cause  is  one,  and 
whoever  may  strike  the  effective  blow,  all  will,  and  all  should  tri¬ 
umph  with  praises  unto  Him  to  whom  alone  the  honor  is  due. 

There  is  another  class  of  men  with  whom  your  relations  will  be 
somewhat  delicate  and  at  times  trying.  I  mean  the  native  pastors 
and  catechists.  As  a  general  thing,  your  superior  culture  and 
abilities  will  enable  you  to  act  as  their  instructor  and  guide.  But  oft¬ 
entimes,  they,  by  reason  of  their  better  knowledge  of  the  language 
and  better  acquaintance  with  the  people  and  circumstances,  will 
have  the  advantage  in  judgment  and  power.  It  will  be  your  wisdom 
to  yield  and  defer  to  them.  Such  a  relative  position  will  test  your 
humility  and  call  for  that  temper  of  mind  which  consents  to  be¬ 
come  as  nothing  that  it  may  serve  all.  You  will  then  show  your¬ 
self  best  qualified  to  take  the  lead  when  you  can  understand 
how  courteously  to  retire  and  give  others  place  when  the  occasion 
demands.  Remember,  it  will  be  your  business  to  build  up  self- 
sustaining  congregations  and  self-reliant  pastors.  You  cannot  do 
this  unless  you  consent  to  be  “  among  them  as  one  that  serveth, 77 
aifd  allow  them  full  scope  for  the  exercise  of  their  independence. 
This  may  lead  at  times  to  some  seeming  disorder  in  your  system, 
but  disorder  is  one  of  the  attendants  upon  liberty  and  indepen¬ 
dence.  You  must  rejoice  when  you  see  men,  if  actuated  by  a 
right  spirit,  ready  to  take  upon  themselves  responsibilities,  and  to 
act  for  themselves,  even  though  they  may  not  agree  with  you  in 
every  particular.  The  missionary  does  not  go  .out  to  become  the 
Lord  over  G-od7s  heritage,  even  though  he  may  have  been  instru- 


ORDAINING  EXERCISES. 


31 


mental  in  winning  that  heritage.  His  real  greatness  will  show 
itself  in  endeavoring  to  rear  men  to  place  in  God’s  kingdom, 
u  whose  shoe’s  latchet  he  may  be  unworthy  to  unloose.”  Court, 
then,  the  magnanimity  of  John  whose  joy  was  fulfilled  when  point¬ 
ing  to  his  success,  or  he  could  say  “  He  must  increase  but  I  must 
decrease.” 

You  will  also  stand  in  peculiar  relations  to  the  American  Board. 
Here  the  obligations  will  be  mutual.  The  Board  is  organized  for 
the  sake  of  supporting  the  men  who  'volunteer  to  execute  the  com¬ 
mission  devolved  upon  the  whole  church.  It  is,  therefore,  in 
one  sense,  the  servant  of  the  missionaries,  who  go  out  upon  their 
Lord’s  appointment.  But  if  the  missionaries  derive  support  from 
the  church  through  the  Board,  it  is  but  proper  that  they  hold 
themselves  responsible  to  the  church,  through  the  Board,  for  the 
right  use  of  the  funds  they  receive,  and  the  manner  in  which  they 
employ  their  time.  Your  position  will  be,  therefore,  one  of  modi¬ 
fied  independence  and  subordination,  which  the  grace  of  love  and 
Christian  devotion  will  teach  you  how  to  preserve  and  maintain. 
No  doubt  your  judgment  will  sometimes  differ  from  that  of  those 
who  sometimes  undertake  to  direct  you;  and  you  may  feel  called 
upon,  attimes,  to  express  your  adverse  opinion  and  to  advocate  it 
strenuously  ;  but  when,  having  so  done,  and  then  finding  yourself 
overruled,  learn  patiently  to  submit  and  wait  for  the  ultimate  di¬ 
vine,  providential  decision,  which  shall  either  vindicate  you  or 
convince  you.  There  is  no  greater  mischief  to  a  good  cause  than 
the  jarring  in  counsel,  made  by  an  obstinate  good  man.  Say  your 
say  out  boldly  and  kindly,  and,  when  you  are  in  a  minority,  yield. 
This  is  true  Christian  heroism. 


32 


ORDAINING  EXERCISES. 


Your  prime  obligations,  however,  are  to  your  great  Master. 
His  is  the  commission  you  bear ;  His  is  the  strength  in  which  you 
execute  it ;  His  is  the  glory  of  your  success ;  to  Him  are  you  mainly 
responsible  ;  and  from  Him  will  you  get  your  reward.  Keep 
this  fact  foremost  in  your  heart.  It  is  the  one  grand  considera¬ 
tion,  which,  absorbing  all  others,  should  control,  direct  and  stimu¬ 
late  you  throughout  your  whole  work.  A  missionary  loses  his  char¬ 
acter  when  he  forgets  this,  and  with  this  he  loses  everything  noble 
belonging  to  his  vocation.  Let  your  consciousness  then  be  ever 
filled  with  the  abiding  thought — “  I  am  the  ambassador  of  Christ 
to  those  who  have  not  known  His  name  and  have  not  asked  for 
Him ; 77  and  in  this  consciousness  speak  and  act ;  be  ready  to  do 
and  to  die  ;  committing  the  whole  burden  of  care  about  the  issue 
with  Him  who,  unseen,  hovers  over  every  field  where  His  servants 
are  toiling,  to  help  them  in  the  conflict  and  to  receive  their  spirits 
when  the  time  of  departure  comes.  To  His  keeping,  therefore,  we 
commend  you,  my  dear  brother,  in  the  full  assurance  that  He  will 
keep  that  treasure  of  our  hearts  which  we  thus  commit  unto  Him 
until  the  last  day.  We  know  not  what  His  decisions  may  be  in 
reference  to  you  for  the  future,  whether  it  be  a  long  and  useful  life, 
spared  through  many  dangers  and  perils,  to  close  at  last  serenely 
in  your  native  land,  like  that  of  the  Patriarch  Goodale,  or  a  mar- 
tyr7s  death  in  early  life,  like  that  of  Miriam  and  Coffing,  or  a  return 
to  this  land,  broken  by  disease  and  excess  of  work,  as  is  the  case 
with  many  others ;  but  whatever  it  may  be,  we  have  such  trust  in 
the  reality  of  your  connexion  with  the  Master,  as  to  be  comforted 
in  the  assured  hope  that  it  will  be  well  with  you  and  for  the  cause 
you  have  espoused  through  you.  Only  watch  thou  in  all  things ; 


ORDAINING  EXERCISES. 


33 


endure  afflictions;  do  the  work  of  an  Evangelist;  make  full  proof 
of  thy  ministry,  and  the  Lord,  whom  you  serve,  will  stand  by  you 
to  the  end.  To  Him,  therefore,  and  to  the  word  of  His  grace  do 
we  all  commend  you — we,  the  Presbytery,  under  whose  care  you 
have  been  brought  into  the  ministry — this  ancient  and  venerable 
church,  which  has  been  your  spiritual  home  from  your  infancy,  and 
its  pastor — I  too,  and  the  people  of  my  charge,  on  whom  your  im¬ 
press  will  linger  long  as  that  of  a  Timothy,  whose  youth  has  so 
blended  with  the  gravity  and  earnestness  of  manhood  as  to  win 
both  tender  affection  and  cordial  esteem, — also  the  whole  circle  of 
friends  and  associates  who  have  closed  around  vou  in  ever  grow- 
ing  regard, — and  will  add,  father,  mother,  brothers  and  sister — alb 
all  unite  in  invoking  upon  you  the  selectest  blessings  of  our  heav¬ 
enly  Father ;  and  in  praying  that  He  may  give  you  the  rich  reward 
of  bringing  many  sons  into  glory.  Dearer  to  us  will  be  the  Syrian 
mission  for  your  sake,  and  when  we  meet  in  our  monthly  con¬ 
cert  of  prayer,  it  will  be  with  peculiar  pleasure  that  we  shall  look 
on  the  page  that  bears  your  name  and  tells  us  how  the  Lord  is  pros¬ 
pering  your  work.  Accept  our  pledge  of  sympathy  and  support. 
Be  thou  faithful  unto  death,  and  the  Lord  shall  give  thee  a  crown 

of  life.  Amen  and  farewell. 

5 


jdralfl  of  th  ferian  j)’ 


mmi, 


BY  BEY.  H.  H,  JESSUP,  D.  D.,  SYRIA. 


My  Dear  Brother  in  Christ  : — I  esteem  it  a  privilege  to  be 
permitted  on  this  occasion,  to  give  you  the  right  hand  of  fellow¬ 
ship,  and,  in  the  name  of  our  Lord  and  Master,  of  my  missionary 
brethren,  and  of  the  churches  and  people  in  Syria,  to  bid  you  a 
cordial  welcome  to  the  missionary  work. 

After  a  residence  of  nearly  thirteen  years  in  that  distant  land, 
I  can  speak  from  experience  of  the  work  to  which  you  have  con¬ 
secrated  your  life,  and,  in  view  of  its  darker  as  well  as  its  brighter 
features,  its  trials  as  well  as  its  joys,  looking  upon  it  just  as  it  is, 
and  as  it  will  continue  to  be,  I  can  honestly  and  heartily  congratu¬ 
late  you  upon  the  choice  you  have  made. 

The  important  geographical  position  of  the  mission  to  which 
you  are  going,  is  familiar  to  you  and  to  all  present  to-night.  But 
its  strategic  position,  with  reference  to  the  great  work  of  evangel¬ 
izing  the  world,  is  still  more  important.  It  is  in  the  very  centre 
of  the  Mohammedan  world.  The  religion  of  Mohammed  extends 
from  Peking  in  China,  to  Liberia  in  Western  Africa,  and  numbers 


ORDAINING  EXERCISES. 


35 


one  hundred  and  fifty  millions  of  followers,  of  whom  one  hundred 

« 

millions  speak  the  Arabic  language.  The  only  sacred  book  of 
these  millions  of  Moslems  is  the  Koran,  an  Arabic  book;  and 
whatever  their  vernacular  or  spoken  language,  whether  Turkish, 
Mandingo,  Persian,  Tartar,  Hindostanee,  or  Chinese,  they  can  read 
the  Koran  only  in  Arabic.  These  one  hundred  and  fifty  millions 
of  men,  spread  over  one  hundred  and  twenty  degrees  of  longitude, 
if  then,  they  can  read  their  own  sacred  book  at  all,  they  must  read 
it  in  the  Arabic  language,  which  is  the  language  you  are  to  speak, 
and  preach,  and  write,  and  think  in,  during  your  life  in  Syria. 

If  you  write  a  book  in  Arabic,  it  will  be  ready  for  a  population 
more  than  four  times  as  large  as  the  United  States.  If  you  train 
a  native  preacher,  he  can  go  through  the  whole  northern  half  of 
the  vast  continent  of  Africa,  and  find  the  people  able  to  understand 
him,  and  read  the  Bible  he  bears  with  him ;  and  then  turning 
eastward,  he  may  traverse  Persia,  Afghanistan,  Belochistan,  Tar¬ 
tary,  Northern  India,  and  Northern  China,  and  find  everywhere 
men  who  will  revere  his  Arabic  Bible,  because  it  is  in  the  sacred 
language  of  the  Koran.  You  will  learn  on  reaching  Beirut,  that 
the  Arabic  Bible  translated  and  printed  there,  has  already  been 
scattered  abroad  from  Liberia  on  the  West,  to  Peking  in  the  East. 
You  will  find  a  vast  and  overwhelming  work  unfolding  before 
you — a  work  which  is  to  be  felt  in  years  to  come,  not  only  in  the 
narrow  geographical  area  of  Syria,  but  throughout  the  region 
occupied  by  one-eighth  of  the  human  race. 

You  go  to  Syria  at  a  time  when  you  are  greatly  needed.  The 
brethren  there  are  overwhelmed  with  work.  Few,  alas,  are  ready 
to  heed  the  Divine  command,  “  Go  and  teach  all  nations ; ;;  and 


36 


ORDAINING  5  EXERCISES. 


you  may  rest  assured  that  on  your  arrival,  you  will  be  greeted 
with  a  hearty  welcome. 

I.  I  bid  you  welcome  in  the  first  place  to  a  life  of  hard  work. 
The  missionary  work  is  as  varied  in  its  character  as  is  Christian 
work  at  home,  and  as  far  as  individuals  are  concerned,  generally 
far  more  so. 

Our  mission  ought  to  be  well  enough  manned  to  admit  of  the 
same  wise  division  of  labor  which  obtains  at  home,  so  that  while 
one  is  pastor,  another  is  teacher,  another  author,  another  editor, 
another  missionary  secretary,  and  another  city  missionary  or  col¬ 
porteur.  But  owing  to  the  numerical  weakness  of  the  most  of  our 
missions,  one  man  is  often  compelled  to  act  as  pastor,  preacher, 
visitor,  editor,  teacher,  author,  singing-master,  itinerant  colporteur, 
architect,  superintendent  of  schools,  postmaster,  and  even  printer. 
It  is  not  likely  that  you  will  ever  be  called  to  serve  an  appren¬ 
ticeship  in  all  these  varied  duties  and  offices ;  but  you  will  not  be 
long  on  Syrian  soil  before  you  will  find  that  the  missionary 7s  office 
is  no  sinecure.  In  the  first  place,  you  will  find  a  formidable  bar¬ 
rier  between  yourself  and  the  people — the  Arabic  language.  That 
language  is  to  be  learned,  not  by  magic,  nor  by  any  short  method, 
but  by  dint  of  hard  work. 

The  Arabic  language  is  an  admirable  school  of  humility  and 
patience.  You  have  been  studying  for  years.  In  the  Academy, 
the  College  and  Seminary,  and  in  the  active  duties  of  pulpit  minis¬ 
tration,  you  have  been  laying  up  stores  of  knowledge,  so  that  in 
science,  the  ancient  languages,  and  theological  learning,  you  have 
probably  few  peers  among  the  natives  of  the  land  to  which  you 
are  going.  But  on  your  arrival  your  lips  will  be  sealed.  With- 


ORDAINING  EXERCISES. 


37 


out  the  means  of  communicating  with  the  people,  all  your  learning 
will  be  of  little  avail.  You  must  become  a  little  child  again  that 
you  may  be  wise,  and  beginning  with  the  alphabet,  learn  letter  by 
letter,  word  by  word,  sentence  by  sentence,  reading,  writing,  and 
above  all,  hearing  and  speaking  the  language,  until  you  find  your¬ 
self  gradually  mastering  the  difficult  gutturals  and  Oriental  idioms, 
unconsciously  perhaps  to  yourself,  but  none  the  less  surely. 

One  element  of  a  child’s  character  is  especially  needed  in  learn¬ 
ing  a  foreign  tongue,  and  that  is,  so  to  speak,  his  fearlessness,  his 
utter  indifference  to  making  mistakes. .  Our  own  children  make 
constantly  the  most  laughable  mistakes  in  learning  the  English 
language ;  but  with  childish  simplicity,  try  again,  until  they  mas¬ 
ter  the  difficulties  of  articulation  and  pronunciation.  Do  not  be 
afraid  of  mistakes.  Listen  carefully  to  the  native  pronunciation. 
The  ear  is  of  more  practical  use  than  the  eye  in  learning  to  speak 
any  foreign  tongue.  Spend  as  much  of  your  time  as  possible  with 
the  natives  of  the  country.  Walk  with  them,  ride  with  them,  visit 
them,  and  improve  every  opportunity  to  make  talk  on  every  occa¬ 
sion. 

N o  young  man  need  fear  to  enter  the  missionary  work  on  account 
of  the  difficulties  of  the  language.  Let  any  Christian  young  man, 
of  good  education,  sound  common  sense,  and  ordinary  habits  of 
study,  enter  the  missionary  work,  full  of  the  love  of  Christ  and 
the  love  of  souls,  and  find  himself  in  the  presence  of  thousands  of 
immortal  beings,  who  know  not  Christ,  with  no  barrier  between 
himself  and  their  hearts  but  a  difficult  language,  and  he  will  break 
that  barrier  down. 

Again,  with  a  life  of  hard  work  before  you,  you  should  use 


38 


ORDAINING  EXERCISES. 


every  means  for  the  preservation  of  bodily  health.  As  a  matter  of 
conscience  and  Christian  duty,  do  not  spend  too  much  time  in  the 
confinement  of  yonr  study.  Breathe  the  free,  pure  air  of  Leba¬ 
non^  heights  or  the  Mediterranean’s  shores,  cultivate  flowers,  geol¬ 
ogize  among  the  fossiliferous  rocks,  call  upon  the  farmers  in  their 
fields,  the  gardeners  by  the  water  courses,  and  the  artisans  in  their 
shops.  There  is  no  glory  in  falling  a  martyr  to  the  Arabic  lan¬ 
guage,  and  it  is  poor  economy  to  break  down  your  health  prema¬ 
turely  by  neglecting  the  simplest  rules  of  health.  Expect  to  live 
a  long  life,  and  to  spend  it  all  on  missionary  ground.  Do  not 
allow  a  morbid  conscientiousness  to  prevent  your  taking  needed 
rest  and  recreation. 

II.  I  bid  you  welcome  to  an  office  and  a  work  which  are  pre¬ 
eminently  Apostolic .  It  is  well  that  every  missionary,  upon  set¬ 
ting  out  in  his  great  life-work,  should  understand  the  nature  of 
that  work. 

The  experience  of  the  last  half  century  in  missionary  work  has 
evolved  this  principle,  that  the  foreign  missionary  goes  forth  to 
do  precisely  the  work  which  Paul  and  Peter  and  James  and  John 
did,  in  the  Apostolic  age. 

It  is  the  work  of  preaching  the  Gospel,  leading  souls  to  Christ, 
organizing  the  believers  into  churches,  and  ordaining  native  pas¬ 
tors  over  them.  It  is  necessary  to  the  life  and  growth  and  per¬ 
petuity  of  the  native  churches  everywhere,  that  they  have  their 
own  pastors  and  support  them. 

You  do  not  go  to  Syria  to  be  a  pastor  in  Beirut  or  Sidon,  or 
Tripoli  or  Abeih  or  Hums.  It  is  very  natural  that  a  missionary, 
after  sowing  long  in  tears  and  gathering  an  interesting  church 


ORDAINING  EXERCISES. 


39 


to  every  member  of  which  he  holds  the  relation  of  a  spiritual 
father,  should  feel  that  he  can  act  as  their  pastor  better  than  any 
one  of  their  own  number,  and  should  desire  to  remain  in  a  relation 
to  them  which  he  has  temporarily  and  perhaps  necessarily  held ; 
but  if  he  would  develop  in  that  church  the  feeling  of  self-respect 
and  manly  independence,  let  him  rather  devote  himself  to  the 
training  of  a  native  pastor,  to  be  installed  over  them  and  sup. 
ported  by  them. 

The  Arabs  have  a  proverb,  “  Tza  kan  beddak  tiffiy  insan ,  isnoo- 
dhoo 77 — “If  you  would  palsy  a  man  hold  him  up;77  and  if  you 
would  palsy  a  native  church,  feed  it  and  nurse  it  and  brace  it  up, 
and  very  soon,  by  leaning  upon  you,  it  will  forget  the  use  of  its 
limbs  and  become  a  helpless  cripple.  There  are  too  many  such 
cripples  already  on  missionary  ground,  which  need  to  be  galvan¬ 
ized  into  life,  by  being  forced  to  take  up  their  beds  and  walk. 
Do  not,  therefore,  picture  to  yourself  the  delights  of  the  pastoral 
relation  ;  you  go  forth  as  an  Evangelist.  You  will  journey  where 
Paul  journeyed,  and  you  go  to  do  again  the  very  work  of  planting 
and  founding,  and  organizing,  which  he  performed. 

You  will  preach  and  journey  and  converse  with  men  personally 
and  collectively.  You  may  at  some  time  be  called  to  aid  in  train¬ 
ing  native  ministers,  or  in  preparing  a  Christian  literature  for  the 
millions  who  speak  the  Arabic  language ;  but  remember,  that  if 
you  act  as  a  pastor  at  all,  it  must  be  from  that  sad  necessity  which 
arises  from  the  want  of  a  native  ministry.  In  the  strategy  of  mis¬ 
sions,  the  true  Christian  Evangelist  goes  forth  on  a  campaign  to 
the  enemy’s  country.  He  reduces  a  citadel,  a  fortress,  a  town,  a 
district,  to  allegiance  to  Christ,  but  he  cannot  remain  to  garrison 


40 


ORDAINING  EXERCISES. 


the  conquered  country.  The  people  themselves,  brought  into 
loyal  obedience,  must  man  the  forts  and  hold  the  strategic  points 
for  Christ,  while  the  Apostolic  Evangelist  must  pass  on  to  points 
beyond.  Paul  was  not  a  pastor  in  Galatia,  Ephesus,  Phillippi, 
Rome  or  Colosse,  but  he  founded  churches  in  these  places,  ordained 
pastors  over  them  and  then  moved  on  to  parts  still  lying  in  dark¬ 
ness. 

When  circumstances  required,  he  inquired  into  their  state  and 
wrote  searching  epistles  to  them,  and  such  will  often  be  the  expe¬ 
rience  of  the  modern  missionary.  You  will  have  disappointments 
and  trials  not  unlike  those  of  the  Apostle  to  the  Gentiles,  and  it 
will  often  prove  a  source  of  comfort  to  you,  to  study  the  experi¬ 
ence  of  that  man  of  God,  as  delineated  in  his  Epistles,  and  find 
how  similar  are  the  Galatians  and  the  Cretans  and  the  people  of 
Asia  in  our  day  to  those  of  whom  the  Apostle  wrote.  And  you 
will  perhaps  cease  to  wonder  that  the  Apostle  could  gather  men 
into  churches  and  afterwards  speak  of  them  in  terms  of  such  bit¬ 
ter  reproof. 

III.  I  bid  you  welcome  to  a  life  of  patient  waiting.  When  the 
Syrian  farmer  £oes  forth  to  sow  his  grain,  he  is  often  obliged  to 
use  for  seed  literally  the  last  wheat  remaining  in  store  for  the 
support  of  his  wife  and  children.  He  goes  from  his  house  weep¬ 
ing  and  he  sows  in  tears,  then  comes  the  struggle  with  want — the 
patient  waiting,  until  at  length  the  tears  are  wiped  away  and  the 
whole  house  is  filled  with  rejoicing  as  he  returns  again,  bringing 
his  sheaves  with  him.  You  may  reap  soon,  you  may  not  reap  at 
all.  But  you  are  bidden  to  sow  the  seed,  not  knowing  which  will 
prosper. 


ORDAINING  EXERCISES. 


41 


But  how  different  your  work  from  that  of  Parsons  and  Fisk, 
Goodell  and  Bird,  who  first  went  forth  into  that  Syrian  harvest 
field  as  missionary  pioneers.  Fisk  sleeps  under  the  Cypress  trees 
of  Beirut,  where  in  later  years  Eli  Smith  and  Whiting  and  not  a 
few  others,  have  lain  down  to  await  the  resurrection  morn.  Par¬ 
sons  sleeps  in  an  unknown  grave  down  in  Egypt.  But  what  a 
change  since  his  day.  Just  above  the  grave  of  Pliny  Fisk  now 
stand  the  American  Press  building,  with  its  two  steam  power 
presses ;  the  Female  Seminary,  with  its  one  hundred  pupils ;  the 
new  Evangelical  Church  edifice  with  its  overflowing  congregation, 
and  near  by  the  Protestant  College,  and  Medical  Institution ;  while 
along  the  slopes  of  Lebanon,  in  northern  Galilee,  and  around  the 
entering  in  of  Hamath,  are  little  churches  of  living  believers  in 
Christ.  Your  work  will  be  one  of  faith,  but  far  more  a  work  of 
sight  than  was  allowed  to  the  earlier  laborers  in  the  East.  You 
may  plant  new  seed  or  water  seed  already  planted,  but  the  in¬ 
crease  and  growth  of  fruitage  are  of  the  Lord. 

IY.  1  welcome  you  to  a  work  of  personal  discipline.  The  Lord 
has  not  only  a  work  to  do  by  you  and  through  you,  in  Syria,  but  a 
work  to  do  in  you.  Hence  you  will  find  trials  strewn  in  your 
path.  Fear  them  not.  Shrink  not  from  your  encounter  with  foes 
within  and  without.  When  led  to  ask  why  are  my  hopes  disap¬ 
pointed  so  often,  why  do  the  fairly  promising  blossoms  bring  so 
little  fruit,  why  do  hopeful  cases  of  seeming  conversion  relapse  into 
apostasy  and  open  hostility,  why  is  there  so  little  spiritual  life,  or 
self-denial,  or  gratitude  among  those  for  whom  I  have  toiled 
and  wept  and  prayed  and  denied  myself? — let  it  be  a  comfort  to 

you  to  know  that  your  Saviour  Jesus  brought  you  to  Syria,  not 

6 


42 


ORDAINING  EXERCISES. 


only  that  He  might  use  you  to  bring  others  to  heaven,  but  by  the 
sanctified  influence  of  gracious  discipline,  He  might  fit  you  for  hea¬ 
ven.  Trials  will  come  oftentimes  just  when  you  do  not  expect  them. 
The  trials  of  climate  and  strange  customs,  of  a  difficult  language, 
of  separation  from  friends  and  deprivation  of  Christian  society, 
will  be  much  less  severe  than  you  may  anticipate  ;  but  new  forms 
of  spiritual  trial  will  spring  up  in  your  path,  and  you  will  need  to 
live  near  to  Christ,  and  lean  upon  Him,  and  commit  every  interest, 
every  care,  every  question  of  duty,  every  burden  to  Him,  and  He 
will  give  you  relief  and  the  victory. 

V.  Again,  I  welcome  you  to  a  labor  of  love.  The  first  duty  of  a 
missionary  is  to  prove  to  the  people  that  he  loves  them.  If  you  can¬ 
not  do  this  you  will  not  reach  their  hearts.  Identify  yourself  with 
them.  They  are  men  like  ourselves.  They  can  be  melted  by  love 
when  they  cannot  be  broken  by  argument.  They  are  shrewd  and 
sagacious  in  reading  human  character.  They  can  tell  in  a  very 
brief  period  whether  you  really  love  them  and  desire  their  good- 
You  cannot  expect  them  to  appreciate  your  self-denial  in  leaving 
home  and  friends  for  their  sakes.  Your  books,  your  dress  and 
your  European  habits  may  lead  them,  perhaps,  to  think  that  your 
physical  lot  is  far  easier  and  higher  than  that  of  themselves.  But 
if  you  show  an  interest  in  their  welfare,  identify  yourself  with 
them  as  a  people,  show  a  fondness  for  their  language  and  their 
customs,  many  of  which  are  beautiful  and  commendable — if  you  con¬ 
vince  them  that  you  have  come  to  live  and  die  among  them,  and 
to  live  only  for  their  good  and  the  glory  of  Christ,  you  will  win 
their  confidence,  and  they  will  listen  with  interest  as  you  tell  the 
story  of  the  Cross. 


ORDAINING  EXERCISES. 


43 


Do  not  fear  to  go  among  the  lowliest  of  the  people  in  the  most 
abject  abodes.  Some  fifteen  years  ago  1  listened  to  a  missionary, 
charge  given  by  the  now  sainted  G-oodell  to  a  young  missionary 
just  going  to  India.  In  allusion  to  this  very  point  he  said: 
“  When  you  reach  India,  my  brother,  and  gaze  upon  the  wretched 
condition  of  its  crowded  people,  living  in  filth  and  degradation, 
and  the  thought  comes  into  your  mind,  how  can  I,  a  civilized  man, 
born  and  trained  in  a  land  of  Christian  light  and  refinement,  so 
degrade  myself  as  to  associate  with  such  miserable,  abject  crea¬ 
tures,  at  whose  very  presence  my  refined  nature  revolts  ;  then  re¬ 
member,  I  entreat  you,  the  prayer  which  you  offer  every  day  of 
your  life  that  God  would  send  his  pure  and  sinless  Spirit,  who  is 
of  purer  eyes  than  to  behold  iniquity,  to  descend  and  dwell  in 
your  vile  and  sinful  heart ;  not  simply  to  come  to  you,  but  to  stay 
and  take  up  his  abode  with  you; ;;  and  so  I  would  say,  remember 
what  the  Holy  Spirit  has  done  for  you,  and  be  always  willing  to 
labor  for  the  lowest  and  most  wretched  of  the  fellatahs  in  the 
Syrian  mountain  villages. 

VI.  In  conclusion,  let  me  welcome  you  to  the  missionary  work, 
taking  Christ  as  your  only  model  and  exemplar.  You  will 
be  associated  with  a  band  of  earnest  and  beloved  Christian 
brethren,  some  of  whom  labored  in  Syria  before  you  were  born. 
You  will  find  in  the  native  churches  not  a  few  ripe  and  experi¬ 
enced  Christians  who  walk  with  God,  and  will  receive  you  with  a 
most  cordial  welcome.  You  will  be  led,  in  that  land  of  Apostles 
and  prophets,  to  study  anew  the  characters  of  those  holy  men  of 
old,  who  wrought  righteousness  in  that  very  land  where  you  labor. 
But  take  no  man  or  men  as  your  models.  Follow  Christ.  He  has 


44 


ORDAINING  EXERCISES. 


bidden  you  “  go,77  but  He  goes  with  you.  Like  the  Syrian  Shep¬ 
herds,  with  whom  you  wifi  often  rove  over  the  mountains  and 
plains,  He  goes  before  His  people.  He  will  go  before  you.  On 
the  sea  He  will  be  with  you.  When  your  feet  first  touch  the  soil 
of  Syria  He  will  be  with  you.  You  will  find  Him  as  near  and  as 
precious  in  your  Syrian  closet  as  in  your  own  loved  home. 

He  will  lead  you  beside  still  waters.  He  will  search  out  the 
green  pastures  of  His  love  for  you,  even  amid  the  wilderness  of 
spiritual  desolation. 

Welcome  then  to  Syria — to  'the  number  of  our  enfeebled  mission, 
whose  hearts  have  already  been  cheered  by  the  tidings  from  afar 
that  you  are  coming  to  their  relief. 

Welcome  to  the  fellowship  of  joy  and  sorrow,  to  the  discipline 
of  trial  and  personal  sanctification ;  to  the  patient  watching  and 
waiting  for  that  harvest  which  has  been  watered  by  tears ;  to  the 
Apostolic  work  of  founding  churches  in  the  name  and  to  the  glory 
of  Christ ;  to  the  hard  labor  of  an  earnest  worker  in  the  Master's 
cause  ;  to  the  winning  of  the  people’s  love  and  confidence,  and 
above  all,  to  the  humble  imitation  of  Christ  our  living  Head,  our 
only  Exemplar,  without  whom  we  can  do  nothing. 

May  His  Spirit  dwell  in  you  richly,  make  you  faithful  unto 
death,  and  give  you  at  last  many  Syrian  jewels  in  your  crown  of 
rejoicing. 


V 


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